Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-10


getting ivelier, and a stroll through that
section Is almost dream of delight. Up
negr the Chinese Legation it is already
charming. Walking through Dupont cir
Gle the other Day l saw a little picture
that could hardly be duplicated outside
of the Celestial empire. In one Of the
more stQuestered hooks Of the park were
about dozen OF the Chinese attaches in
pig tails and petticOats. Some Of them
were big and fat, with large, round moon
like faces, and lOuuaed lazily about on the
benches, while others, lean and ntmble,
danced and frOilicked and skipped about
ike merry little girls st play, their rat
like voices rising and falling in shFill
cadence. 1t is 2 sight familisr to the resi-
dents of the nelghborhOod. The park Is
the Chinese play ground, and in the sam
mcr YOU are almost sure to find some
them there. ~
Over across the way, Just fronting thP
circle, is tie legation building, more gen
orally known as Castle Stewart. 1t is g
grim cid structure which looks some
what like a church, little like a castle
with lis round tower aud cOlOred win
dOWs aud less like 8 private residence
than anything else. Yet this latter vas
the purpose for which it was built. 1t
was erected by Senator Stewart Of
Nevada when he served that state N the
Senate many years ago. He was at that
time much richer than now, but hear that
he has reglIned much of his lost fortunes,
AID COW that re has returned to the Sen
ate would not be surprised if be would
buy back his old home. Il would be well
for i # some progressive american would
get possession, for the building IS in
Wretchgd repair, and looks as if it were
twice as old as it really is. The British
Legation was built about the same time
end looks inst as fresh and new to-day as
on the day it was flushed. At one time
these TWO buildings stood almost alone IN
8 desolate waste OF swamp and stubole.
Now they stand in the midst of the most
fashionable section OF the capital.
But though tie exterior Of the Rouse is
hardly IS magnificent as Of old you for
get all about il when once you enter. 1t
is Dy far the most unique interior in
Washington, and the Chin maniac might
spend DAYS In studying and feasting his
ewes on the beautiful display that Orna-
ments ne rooms of the spacious mansion.
To the right of the hallway as you enter
the front door are the parlOrs and recep-
tion rooms. Pushing back the heavy and
beautiful embroidered pOrtieTes you pass
into the paIlOT. 1t is the most magnlti-
cent apartment in the house. The walls
ere hung with Chinese drapery OF peculiar
texture, embroidered with maxims taken
from the works of COufucius, and all
about set massive Oriental vases OF
UNIQUE design. There are screens and
rugs in gold and blue scarlet, and col
lection of bric-a-bTac that could scarcely
be equsled IN America.
You can pass from the parlOrs into the
library by going through narrow little
hall. have been in many libraries il my
life, but can say that never have l en-
tered one exactly ike this. The room
might almost be described as an octogOn,
it has so many little hooks and CrannIeS.
There are odd looking bookcases filed
with rare anG valuable manuscripts, and
a number CT cabinets Of beautiful work
manshi0 in which are richly bound edit
ions OF the Chinese classics. This room
is the Minister'S private Office and stran-
gers rarely have 8 chance TO enter it.
Passing SIN further toward the back of
the mansion we come to the ball room,
perhaps tue largest Snd most elegant in
me citv, and the scene of some of
the most brilliant entertainments ever
given in Washington. Though the Min
lister is not & frequent entertainer him
self, ne is always ready TO put his house
at the disposal OF the society ladies Of
Washington. Every season, however, ne
gives a grand call, for which over 1000
invitations ere issued. The last occasion
IF this kind is still fresh in the public
mind, ou account ST the behavior OF the
guests.
There is still another apartment well
worth lingering in. This is the smoking
room-thag heaven of the Celestial OF
every degree. 1t is luxuriously furnished
VITA divans and mats and sofas and rugs
OF every conceivable design and color.
There is not much regard for taste; COM
fort seems TO be the object sought after
and certainly gained. In q large and
curious cabinet you will be shown g
strange and varied collection of pipes. 1t
is little museum in itself in the matter
of smokers goods. l thought 1 ssw
substance that looked like opium, but l
won't be certain. 3.
The smoking-room is the genersr
lounging place of the house. Here ysd
can find 8 majority of the fifteen men
who make up the legation at all hours of
the day, smoking, doing, drinking de-
iCioUs tea every hslf hour, and leading
In the whole q delightfully."- lazy life. In
the evening they generally go to the
thester, of which they are passionately
fond. You can see them almost any
night in a box, dressed in their cool,
loose-ftting costumes and looking tthe